Rise in number of Israelis working abroad illegally

An announcement made by the Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem warns Israelis abroad not to work or live illegally in foreign countries.

This announcement comes as the Foreign Ministry has recently seen an increase in the number of cases where Israelis abroad have been arrested and deported due to illegal work or stay.

"These Israelis face a process which includes an arrest for an extended period of time and a legal process which most likely will end in deportation, and not allowing the deportee to return for several years," the statement said.

The Foreign Ministry emphasizes that an Israeli citizen who breaks the law in a foreign country is under the auspices of the local legal and judicial system.

"The representatives of the Foreign Ministry are available to the Israelis arrested abroad and help them with communications with their family members. In addition, they ensure that their basic rights are kept and they are not discriminated against, including availability to a local lawyer. However, the Israeli representatives are prohibited from being involved in legal matters pending against Israeli citizens in foreign countries," the statement read.

In addition, the statement said that Israeli citizens which are living or working illegally in foreign countries are doing so at their own risk.

"These citizens might find themselves behind bars for a long time, facing legal action and deportation from the country they are in," the statement said.

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